'We could have beaten FIA'
(GMM -- Dec.28) Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that, like Honda and BMW,
it will also drop a threat of arbitration against Formula One's
governing FIA.

The engine-making trio earlier baulked at the allegedly illegal
imposition of a 2.4 liter V8 formula for 2006.

But Mercedes' competition director Norbert Haug said: ''We faced a
long judicial battle. During that time we would have been forced to
develop, in parallel, both (V8 and V10) engine types and this we
wanted to prevent.''

The German denied that the carmaker-trio were advised they would have
not won the action. ''Our advice said the outcome could have been
quite promising for us,'' Haug insisted.

Despite the back-down, he can admit that an unchallenged rule formula
is a 'very good' sign for the sport.

''We will test as much as possible,'' the other Toyota driver
revealed. ''I am anticipating great things to come with Toyota.''

Late debut for new Minardi
(GMM -- Dec.28) Fans of back-of-the-grid F1 team Minardi face a four
month wait for the 2005-spec PS05's grand prix debut.

Paul Stoddart said in Amsterdam last week that, because of the major
regulation overhaul, the cash-strapped Anglo-Italian team will start
next year with a modified version of the 2004 model.

''But (the 2004 car) will be powered by the new (Cosworth) engine,''
he explained. ''The PS05 should arrive at Imola (the San Marino grand
prix), on the twenty fourth of April.''

Earlier, Stoddart requested that Minardi be exempted from building a
2005-spec car in time for Melbourne due to the lateness of a settled
technical code.

Todt not engaged - girlfriend
(GMM -- Dec.28) Jean Todt's Malaysian girlfriend denied the couple
were engaged as they toured her home town at Christmas.

Former Bond-girl Michelle Yeoh fiddled constantly with a huge blue
diamond ring - on her engagement finger - in Ipoh.

''We'll see,'' she said when asked about marriage with the 58-year-old
F1 team principal for Ferrari at the opening of a hall. ''A piece of
paper does not say two people will live happily ever after.''

A spokesman confirmed that it was a joint decision of Mercedes-Benz
and McLaren, which finished fifth in the 2004 constructors' (F1) world
championship.

He said the freeze is due to 'challenges' faced by the global
automotive industry. ''(We will) actively support redeployment
opportunities both internally and externally.''

Twenty nine McLaren members lost their jobs in August after a
reshuffle in the same department.

'Cheers!' - Sato
(GMM -- Dec.28) On the twenty fifth of December, Japanese F1 driver
Takuma Sato sent out a Christmas message.

The always smiling star of BAR-Honda said he was holed up in his
personal physio's home town of Garmisch (Germany).

''I wish I was ... in a hot spa in Japan,'' he laughed about the -10
degree (C) weather. ''But I'm doing all the preparation I can for the
coming season.''

27-year-old Sato said he visited a Christmas market in the town and
enjoyed a spiced hot red wine called 'Gluhwein.'

He added: ''It's very nice and warmed me up -- so Cheers to
everyone!''

Line-up completed on Jan.31
(GMM -- Dec.28) Sir Frank Williams' grand prix outfit has denied it
will unveil the 2005 driver line-up at a London media call next
Thursday.

A spokesman told us that Mark Webber will officially get a Formula One
teammate on 31 January, at the launch of the '05-spec FW27 in Valencia
(Spain).

On 7 January, BMW-powered Williams will launch the FW27's new livery -
said to feature a $16m 'Royal Bank of Scotland' logo presence - at
Bahrain's F1 circuit.

Meanwhile, in a Happy Christmas message, the Grove-based team issued a
fond farewell to former driving line-up Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo
Montoya, and departed tester Marc Gene. ''(We) wish them all the best
for the future,'' the website report read.

The 75-year-old, former teammate to Juan Manuel Fangio but never a
champion himself, does not think BAR's Briton can beat Michael
Schumacher to 2005's top prize.

''He has got to at least have a car as good as (Schumacher's),'' Moss
told Autosport. ''We don't know if he will yet.''

Stirling confessed that he did not admire the way Button handled the
foiled switch to Williams, and how departing BAR principal David
Richards was 'treated. It was very, very poor,' he explained.

Moss, winner of sixteen grands prix until a huge shunt at Goodwood in
1962, also rated Michael Schumacher beneath Fangio and Ayrton Senna.

No loss in V10 grunt - BMW
(GMM -- Dec.28) It'll be twice as rugged, but BMW's engine head does
not think a 2005-spec Formula One V10 will feature a 'pronounced'
power deficit.

Mario Theissen, motorsport director, said in an interview that most F1
manufacturers should be able to regain any horse power wound from the
new-for-2005 extension of the one-engine-per-weekend rule.

Next year, an engine will need to last a car/driver two weekends,
meaning that a Melbourne-spec V10 must also be fitted for the entire
Malaysian grand prix event.

German-born Theissen does, however, think teams will opt for a more
'purposeful' use of the '05-spec engine. ''On Friday (practice),'' he
said as an example, ''it (will be) irrelevant if the engine goes to 18
or 19 thousand rpm.''

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